THE TUNNY. 75 



garded as constituting a portion of the wealth 

 of Prover^e, Sardinia, and Sicily ; " the tunny 

 fishery, as in the days of antiquity, is most im- 

 portant, and its flesh maintains its pristine 

 reputation. 



In May and June, the tunny, in vast shoals, 

 leaves the deep water, and approaches the 

 shore, which it skirts along, seeking for conve- 

 nient breeding places ; and now along the 

 coasts of Languedoc, Prove^e and Sicily, 

 begin the fishery, and all is animation and 

 excitement. Two modes are ' employed. On 

 the signal being given, by a sentinel stationed 

 for the purpose, of the approach of a shoal of 

 these valuable fishes, and who at the same 

 time indicates its course, a number of boats, 

 under the command of a leader, station them- 

 selves so as to form part of a circle, and join 

 their nets, adding more and more nets as may 

 be required, till the terrified fish are hemmed 

 up in an in closure, which is gradually drawn 

 towards the shallow water, near the edge of the 

 shore. Here a large net, with a cone-shaped 

 tunnel, is made use of to receive the fish, and is 

 dragged upon the beach with its heavy burden. 

 The young and small tunnies are, however, 

 ta,ken out in the arms of the fishermen, and the 

 large ones are killed with poles. 



